by Editors, USA TODAY

by Editors, USA TODAY

When you ask this summer to buy some of the "Forever" stamps issued by the United Postal Service, chances are that you might get one with an image of pioneering gay activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was assassinated, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, in 1978. Milk, who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. when he won a seat on the city's Board of Supervisors in 1977, will be remembered today in a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony at the White House, where he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2009 by President Obama.

2. 'American Idol' crowns a 13th winner

Caleb Johnson auditioned for American Idol in two previous years and got cut both times. On Wednesday, the 23-year-old rocker from Asheville, N.C., won the show's 13th season, beating out 17-year-old Jena Irene for the title. Johnson performed his coronation single As Long As You Love Me as confetti flew, and Ryan Seacrest reminded viewers that Johnson's album is slated for an Aug. 12 release and is already available for pre-order on iTunes.

On Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will release its outlook for the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season. It's the first federal hurricane forecast for the upcoming season, which starts on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.

5. Attack at market in China kills dozens

At least 31 people died and over 90 were injured Thursday morning when attackers drove two cars into shoppers, and threw explosives, at an open-air market in the northwest Chinese city of Urumqi, state media reported. China's Ministry of Public Security called it a "violent terrorist incident."

Bonus round: Cities are where the growth is happening

Urban areas are trendy. Think of Brooklyn, where rents and home prices are soaring as people rush in to take advantage of the urban vibe, cutting-edge eateries and oh-so-hip boutiques. And it's not just New York - new population estimates for the nation's cities show many cities are growing, reversing trends from the last half of the 20th century. Among the winners: San Jose has become the 10th U.S. city to top 1 million. Just to the north, San Francisco grew 1.2%,